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or two decades I have run a business that uses foreign technology. I rely on expats on many levels, simply because Indonesians don'€™t have the knowledge. There are lots of '€œworkers'€ but that is no guarantee of the right level. So please explain to me why I should be forced to hire fellow Indonesians who can'€™t do the job? About trust, I have always trusted various expat finance people through the years.

The last one left a while ago and was replaced by an Indonesian. Guess what happened, within six months I had financial issues due to dodgy accountancy. It was caused by a very chauvinistic Indonesian. I have a policy that the job goes to the one with the best qualifications, no matter where they come from.

What we Indonesians should realize is that most of the titles we have do not match those abroad. There are definitely title inflation issues in this country. Look at our government. That says it all. I'€™m not defending every expat here; I have also met some who would be better off going back home and should not work and live here. But most of them do a better job than many of us will ever be able to.

Keris P.
Jakarta